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The season · activity

A good draft isn't enough.

Most champions draft well and then keep working the waiver wire all season. Doing only one of the two rarely wins a title.

A man dives after a football that keeps bouncing just out of reach.
Draft ROI
Color
League championEveryone elseLines split at league-median activity and neutral draft

Where the 47 champions came from

Low activity
High activity
Good draft
19%
9 of 47 champions
from 27% of managers
66%
31 of 47 champions
from 25% of managers
Weak draft
0%
0 of 47 champions
from 22% of managers
15%
7 of 47 champions
from 26% of managers

The four boxes add up to 100% of champions. A box that holds more champions than managers is winning more than its fair share.

492 manager seasons · 48 redraft leagues · updated October 2026

What we see

  • Managers who draft well and stay active win the league 25 percent of the time. That one group is about 25 percent of managers, and it holds 31 of the 47 champions.
  • Draft well and then coast, and the title rate falls to 7 percent. Grind the wire after a weak draft, and it is 6 percent.
  • A weak draft followed by a quiet season has not produced a single title.

What it might mean for you

Treat the draft as a down payment.

A good draft is the price of entry, not the finish line. Champions keep managing the roster they bought, all season long.

Activity won't rescue a weak roster.

Busy managers with weak drafts rarely win. Working the wire multiplies a good draft; it doesn't fix a bad one.

How we measured this

We looked at 492 manager seasons across 48 finished redraft leagues on Yahoo, ESPN, and Sleeper, with 47 champions among them.

Activity counts every add, drop, and trade a manager made during the season, compared with the typical manager in their own league. That keeps busy leagues and quiet leagues on the same scale. Anyone who made more moves than their league’s middle manager counts as active.

The draft grade is the same one from the draft piece: every pick compared with what a typical player at that position returned that season, added up for the roster. Any draft that graded above zero counts as good. Dynasty, keeper, auction, and best-ball leagues are left out.

Show the data as a table
SeasonTeamsMoves× medianDraft ROIFinish
20128240.96336.21st 🏆
20128220.88173.62nd
20128481.9297.53rd
20128200.8272.94th
20128240.96134.45th
20128281.12-150.96th
20128823.28-308.27th
20128261.04-556.78th
20126241.0496.71st 🏆
20126241.04111.92nd
20126220.96-3.44th
20126180.78-1473rd
20126120.52168.85th
20126321.39-227.56th
201610502.38279.71st 🏆
201610241.1451.53rd
201610341.62-71.12nd
20161080.38211.74th
201610180.86-122.66th
201610582.7611.48th
201610200.9527.15th
201610221.05-408.17th
2016100078.99th
20161000-59.310th
201612762.62168.25th
201612772.66-27.61st 🏆
201612491.6943.73rd
201612140.48343.32nd
201612301.03-309.47th
201612280.9765.78th
201612401.38-247.86th
201612220.7681.74th
201612002999th
201612190.66-232.110th
201612441.52204.111th
201612240.83-389.112th
20178561.6-200.64th
20178240.69135.52nd
20178601.71179.93rd
20178361.03590.11st 🏆
20178641.83-232.16th
20178200.57102.55th
20178340.97-35.57th
20178260.74-540.98th
201712501.47332.75th
201712320.94135.23rd
201712621.8240.22nd
201712461.3556.81st 🏆
201712220.65-193.68th
201712541.59313.16th
201712160.47130.27th
201712361.06-389.74th
201712320.94-314.59th
201712722.12-12110th
201712300.88-79.711th
201712230.6890.112th
201710605.45-228.21st 🏆
20171000259.82nd
201710181.64-223.43rd
201710383.45-278.24th
201710262.36111.55th
201710645.82-396.86th
20171040.36488.48th
20171000289.77th
2017100023.39th
20171000-46.810th
201810572.59213.32nd
201810582.6424.31st 🏆
201810221-287.23rd
201810140.64391.55th
201810221-2.84th
201810462.09-84.66th
201810180.82199.47th
20181080.36-110.58th
201810331.5-0.19th
201810170.77-341.910th
201810763.3-1423rd
201810321.39-329.84th
201810341.484176th
201810200.87183.42nd
201810180.78-203.65th
201810924316.41st 🏆
201810261.13-73.18th
20181000-159.510th
201810120.5233.67th
20181000-429th
20188381.15278.11st 🏆
20188280.85-361.72nd
20188200.6158.44th
20188200.61-170.43rd
20188431.3139.15th
20188501.5215.26th
20188401.21-86.27th
20188260.79127.88th
201910150.3247.81st 🏆
201910681.45265.92nd
201910521.1123.64th
201910400.85593rd
201910420.89-67.28th
201910811.72-2717th
201910901.91-26.56th
20191080.17258.65th
201910320.68-163.49th
2019101082.3-125.310th
20198441.29386.31st 🏆
20198521.5363.92nd
20198501.47-434th
20198300.88-114.23rd
20198120.35-89.88th
20198240.71-290.75th
20198260.76155.67th
20198381.12-68.36th
201910401.4362.11st 🏆
201910200.7186.52nd
201910260.9314.16th
201910461.64162.44th
201910541.93-94.65th
20191000268.110th
201910521.86-80.33rd
201910220.7919th
20191080.2991.87th
201910301.07-511.58th
201912100.34360.63rd
201912210.721274th
201912702.412481st 🏆
201912280.97-147.12nd
201912270.93-8.312th
201912341.17-8.98th
201912682.34-100.86th
201912481.66-261.35th
201912260.91889th
201912341.17-31411th
201912180.628110th
201912301.03-163.37th
20208481.6518.42nd
20208140.47-5923rd
20208481.6125.91st 🏆
20208180.670.44th
2020820.0793.15th
20208421.4-246.16th
20208481.6-259.57th
2020880.27289.28th
202012971.75186.61st 🏆
202012991.784.42nd
202012470.8524.74th
202012561.01167.25th
202012550.99128.33rd
202012761.37-431.76th
202012410.74-344.210th
202012801.44-42.17th
202012160.29116.111th
202012150.27121.29th
202012400.72102.312th
202012661.19-31.48th
202012441.52-65.64th
202012461.59199.43rd
202012120.41192.52nd
202012662.28207.61st 🏆
202012160.55197.2n/a
202012341.1753.3n/a
202012140.4817.6n/a
202012421.45-109.3n/a
202012100.34260n/a
202012240.83-392.4n/a
202012582-267.1n/a
202012200.69-293.3n/a
202010891.37532.72nd
202010651-436.41st 🏆
202010490.75154.35th
202010220.3478.23rd
202010560.8633.96th
202010741.14156.24th
202010961.48-254.110th
202010651-160.59th
202010821.26-1.88th
202010320.49-102.67th
202112661.28871st 🏆
202112220.43485.13rd
2021121322.56407.52nd
202112480.93153.64th
202112551.0743.47th
202112460.89-354.45th
202112240.47658th
20211280.163626th
2021121272.47-549.69th
202112340.66-25210th
202112701.36-72.111th
202112621.2-375.912th
202110681.58357.71st 🏆
202110501.16226.52nd
202110511.1966.84th
202110360.8458.63rd
202110140.33126.15th
202110240.56-112.56th
202110320.7432.98th
202110561.3-197.67th
202110220.51-163.19th
202110541.26-394.210th
202112421.24437.51st 🏆
202112601.762652nd
202112220.653884th
202112682163.73rd
202112320.94-1.4n/a
202112100.29190.4n/a
202112300.88-497.1n/a
202112361.06-74.1n/a
202112661.94-1515th
202112381.12-380.86th
202112320.94-70.68th
202112200.59-268.87th
202110671.44144.44th
202110260.56219.11st 🏆
202110340.73-101.35th
202110972.09-1012nd
202110180.39856th
202110561.23143rd
2021101072.3-64.48th
202110781.68-571.47th
202110370.8163.310th
202110310.67-88.29th
202210781.39432.54th
202210290.52213.43rd
202210611.09-191.21st 🏆
202210761.36240.42nd
202210220.39-78.67th
202210881.5711.95th
202210390.7-868th
202210661.18-105.76th
202210510.91-2419th
202210270.48-196.410th
202210521.76481.81st 🏆
202210351.1951.12nd
202210541.8352.64th
202210180.61218.43rd
202210712.41-56.48th
202210200.68-29.17th
202210200.68-136.56th
202210240.8174.65th
202210200.68-277.39th
202210381.29-379.810th
202210591.44525.72nd
202210691.68177.94th
202210160.39208.25th
202210591.44-116.73rd
202210421.02272.36th
202210260.63139.61st 🏆
202210551.3475.38th
202210390.95-523.99th
202210170.41-178.77th
202210400.98-580.710th
202212522.17389.62nd
202212461.92420.91st 🏆
202212200.83323.23rd
202212220.92-51.54th
202212281.17302.1n/a
202212602.5-377.3n/a
202212200.83-136.2n/a
20221280.33173.8n/a
202212261.08-41.97th
202212542.25-429.58th
20221240.17-344.85th
202212180.75-2266th
202210701.56286.32nd
202210340.76426.33rd
202210541.2291.51st 🏆
202210501.11-71.24th
202210420.93-57n/a
202210380.84-264.2n/a
202210481.0723.45th
202210581.29-290.18th
202210180.4-72.96th
202210230.51-271.27th
202310491.88561st 🏆
20231060.23252.72nd
202310200.77432.24th
202310562.15-53.43rd
202310511.96-187.16th
202310140.546.85th
202310461.77166.97th
20231080.31-419.18th
202310261-739th
202310261-182.110th
202312501.23-55.11st 🏆
202312370.91-336.82nd
202312711.75-162.24th
202312120.3258.43rd
202312992.44284.85th
202312380.94120.47th
202312270.673796th
202312250.62-188.910th
202312160.4-89.211th
202312501.23-76.48th
202312431.06-6.112th
202312661.63-126.69th
202310280.82208.73rd
202310481.41-20.42nd
2023101213.561414th
202310361.06262.71st 🏆
202310180.53110.9n/a
202310240.71-171.2n/a
202310501.47211.47th
202310320.9438.28th
202310361.06-354.26th
202310270.79-428.45th
202310551.3153.43rd
202310400.95248.31st 🏆
202310160.3846.15th
202310481.1498.36th
202310421123.82nd
202310280.67126.54th
202310671.6-220.110th
202310370.88-282.39th
202310461.1161.78th
202310421-356.67th
202312100.29405.11st 🏆
202312461.31-365.93rd
202312481.3729.82nd
202312361.03109.34th
202312340.97252.5n/a
202312391.11-37.4n/a
202312240.69201n/a
202312571.63-527n/a
202312300.8639.68th
202312160.46-21.66th
202312140.421.77th
202312401.14-106.55th
202410611.74518.21st 🏆
202410521.49288.12nd
202410501.43-85.64th
202410180.51236.73rd
202410320.91-46.36th
202410481.37-177.87th
202410180.5127.65th
202410100.29-152.28th
202410381.09-2659th
202410140.4-343.710th
202412591.3296.54th
202412801.7648.11st 🏆
202412511.1225.43rd
202412551.21495.32nd
202412521.1454.87th
202412260.57-240.26th
202412290.64-158.610th
2024121022.2427.45th
202412220.48-386.212th
202412400.88-109.18th
20241280.18231.711th
20241200-284.99th
202410682.23270.92nd
202410260.85195.41st 🏆
202410300.98142.15th
202410150.49-64.74th
202410591.93-334.96th
202410311.0266.83rd
202410612-120.57th
202410300.9829.78th
202410110.36-239.610th
202410521.755.19th
202412421.31538.11st 🏆
202412762.3892nd
202412722.25-128.94th
202412300.9459.73rd
202412220.69-277.9n/a
202412341.0695.2n/a
202412140.44213.8n/a
202412140.4415.2n/a
202412521.63204.38th
202412280.88-224.37th
202412341.06-3386th
202412300.94-165.95th
202410501.04375.22nd
202410440.9214.71st 🏆
202410761.58-434.53rd
2024101022.13360.55th
202410661.3825.54th
202410460.96-201.96th
202410671.42.210th
202410310.65225.49th
202410200.42229.17th
202410380.79-595.38th
202414481.88-21.84th
202414291.14232.11st 🏆
202414632.472923rd
202414140.55108.55th
202414461.824.42nd
202414582.27-45.26th
202414190.75-51111th
20241480.3137810th
202414291.14-321.17th
20241400383.18th
202414311.22-199.814th
20241400128.112th
20241420.08-0.713th
202414220.86-445.89th
202410881.63-136.91st 🏆
202410380.7270.43rd
202410921.7-32.66th
202410761.41193.84th
20241030.065192nd
202410821.52-354.38th
202410681.26-543.210th
202410400.74300.45th
202410340.63-148.67th
20241020.04-68.19th
202510240.86481.32nd
202510311.11421.51st 🏆
202510441.5723.63rd
202510140.5-261.94th
202510963.43-14.86th
202510301.07-97.15th
202510260.93-63.28th
202510612.18-616.77th
202510110.39-266.89th
202510160.57393.310th
2025121303.47419.11st 🏆
202512611.63-40.42nd
202512421.12-8.34th
202512250.67100.13rd
202512391.0462.45th
202512792.11-140.66th
202512220.59-364.111th
202512310.83-61.98th
202512100.27383.310th
20251200-112.29th
202512431.15-51.17th
202512360.96-185.712th
202510250.94358.93rd
202510461.7422.54th
20251090.34257.46th
202510632.385.32nd
202510481.81-70.85th
202510220.83102.21st 🏆
202510281.0643.19th
202510752.83-483.410th
202510180.68-3578th
202510200.75120.57th
202510301.22-289.24th
202510130.53239.63rd
202510963.924121st 🏆
202510301.22436.22nd
202510853.47169.810th
202510341.39154.55th
20251040.16255.96th
202510190.78-550.49th
20251010.04-186.97th
20251020.08-643.58th
202510160.269.83rd
202510260.43844th
202510621.02302.65th
2025101883.11-419.16th
2025101091.852.21st 🏆
2025101602.64164.82nd
202510631.0441.69th
202510590.98183.27th
202510520.86-475.810th
202510240.457.98th
202512802.13580.91st 🏆
202512381.01-32.32nd
202512501.331795th
202512260.69106.73rd
202512481.28-39.912th
202512501.33-106.511th
202512381.01-258.84th
202512160.4348.86th
202512200.53279.38th
202512340.91-385.37th
202512370.99-219.610th
202512220.59-151.89th
202510621.29327.14th
202510481229.42nd
202510280.58323.83rd
202510440.92-149.96th
202510621.29-149.41st 🏆
2025101062.21-459.95th
202510380.7926.79th
202510140.29281.610th
202510601.25-213.97th
202510481-215.88th
202514621.55137.44th
202514190.48117.83rd
2025141563.9-236.72nd
202514360.9-82.65th
202514661.65443.91st 🏆
202514290.73-55.66th
202514230.5714410th
202514822.05-54.512th
202514471.18-178.29th
20251480.2374.78th
202514441.1-30.911th
202514621.55-52.114th
20251480.2-142.57th
20251400-384.913th

Next, in the draft

Your draft grade is partly a health report.

See where your seasons land.

Your drafts and your activity, on the same two axes as every league here.

Run this on my league →